Jar holder



`July 13, 1937. l G A LODIN 2,086,674

JAR HOLDER Filed O'Ct. 1'7, 1936 JN VENTQE TTM/NEX Patented July 13, 1937 UNITED vvSTATES PATENT OFFICE 3 AClaims.

I My invention pertains to a device for holding containers of the typev best known as preserve jars and to rmly hold the lower portion of such container while its usual threaded cap is taken oi'l or put on the correspondingly threaded upper and open end of the container; the latter action being highly important to enable one to put the cap on tight after the container has been iilled and isl to be stored.

The main object of my invention is to pro- Cil vide a highly eiiicient, inexpensive and simple device for the purpose stated and as illustrated in preferred form in the accompanying drawing; in which;-

, Fig. 1 is a top view of my device mounted on the. edge part of a table or other convenient ledge.

' Fig. 2 is a perspective iront View of Fig. 1 'showing additionally, in dotted lines, a preserve jar in clamped position.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the table engaging member or base of my device and Fig. 4 is a sectional detail, in enlarged scale, taken on linel 4--4 in Fig. 1, but showing the base member of my device clamped onto the edge of a metal table top by a U-clamp.

Referring to the drawing by reference numerals, like parts being designated by corresponding characters in the several views, 5 designates the top and an edge portion of a wooden table top, a ledge or sill or other horizontal and rigid element. In Fig. 4, 5A designates a portion oi a metal table top having its edge formed as a drop flange 5A.

My device comprises a horizontally disposed contractible and expansible flat metal loop of two overlapping sections designated 6 and 1 and of which 6 is right hand and 'I left hand, said sections having their respective free ends comprising each a vertical tubular bearing, designated BR and 8L, each engaging one of a pair of rigid upright posts BP of a flat metal base member 9 which is rigidly but removably retained at the edge of the table 5, as will presently be described.

The portable base member 9 comprises an elongated angle-iron piece arranged to lie against the outer edge of table 5 and on the adjacent upper face of the table, the upper horizontal iiange comprising a pair of spaced at fingers 9A between which, in vvertical plane is formed an integral quadrangular frame BP-SP of which SP comprises two vertical posts and SP an integral horizontal bar connecting the upper termini of the posts.

The lower and Vertical flange part of the base member l9 bears against the outer edge of the table or ledge 5 and is slitted upwardly as 9S in preferably two places for the purpose of straddling the shanks of corresponding spaced wood screws I0 driven horizontally intoV the edge of the table and clamping to said edge a shallow U- shaped holder II. Said holder II is an elongated flat metal bar with transverse end flanges IIF which are directed toward and contact the table edge to retain the bar II in spaced parallel relation to the table edge, the opening thus provided being occupied by the downward iiange of base member 9 the slit portions of which straddle the screws therein and the base member is rigidlyv but removably retained at the edge of the table while the fingers 9A- contact the table top.

The posts 9P thus extend upwardly rigidly at the table edge, the bearings SR and 8L on said posts holding the loop member in horizontal plane over the table surface, as sho-wn in Fig. 2.

The loop sections 6--7 extend from` their respective loop parts tangentially to the` respective upright bearings BR and 8L.

In Figs. l and 2, the flexible loop members or straps 6 1 are shown overlapped at the side opposite from the posts, member 1 interiorly of member 6. The end part of member 'I is slidably retained in close Contact with member-I by means of a metal collar I2 or any equivalent thereof. The rear or free endof loop section 6 is bent outwardly as at 6A and inwardly or to the rear of said bent portion carries a metal collar I3 having an integral inwardly directed fingerhook I3F which may be inserted in any one of a row of apertures 'IA in loop member 1 (see Fig. 2) thus changing the amount of overlap and consequently the size of the loop as may be required according to size of jar on which a cap is to be put on or removed.

A standard type of preserve jar I4 is illustrated in Fig. 2 in do-tted outlines only, its screw cap designated I5. Assuming that the loop is xed to such size as to loosely receive the jar Within it and assuming that the cover I5 is to be placed on it and tightened, the operator simply moves the jar and loop toward the left from center position (see arrow I6) and with one hand bearing left on the jar the other hand grasps the cap I5, the loop is contracted to grip the jar and the cap may be screwed down as tightly as desired by clockwise rotation of the cap on the jar openings. For removing a. jar cap the operator inserts the jar in the loop in the same manner then bears right from center as indicated by arrow I'I to contract the loop on jar the latter being held firmly as the cap is unscrewed by counter clock-wise rotation.

To adjust the size of loop the operator merely puts the end of a thumb of one hand against the 5 end part 6A of strap 6 and presses forward, as to left in Fig. 1, thus releasing hook ISF from contact with strap 1 and then the said hookl is pressed back into any one of the apertures IA and thus engaged with strap 'I at such place that the loop is of a size to freely receive the body of the jar when the loop is directly opposite its posts. Because of the exible nature of the entire loop it is possible to engage it on jars of other than round form, even square and hexagonal jars being eiiciently gripped.

When deemed necessary the inner face of loop member 'I may be lined (not shown) with a strip of rubber, cloth or other material for better contact than metal.

In Fig. 4 the base frame 9 is shown clamped to the edge flange 5A of a metal table top with an ordinary U-clamp I8 having a thumb screw I9 to clamp the lower flange of the base member to the flange of the table.

The use of my device has been fully disclosed simultaneously with above description of its preferred construction. The features stressed are the easily adjustable loop, the permanent pivotal connection of the loop bearings on the xed parallel and upright posts SP of the base member 9 and the means for retaining the device in a simple and unobstructive member I I on the edge part of a table. It is obvious that said latter member, I I, may be mounted permanently to be ilush with the edge of a table, and it is obvious too that the loop is largest, for receivinga jar body, when positioned directly opposite and inwardly of posts BP whence the jar is moved to right or left to contract the loop as stated.

Modifications in construction may be made and described. l

I claim:

1. A jar holder and clamping device comprising an elongated angle-iron base arranged to contact adjacent vertical and horizontal faces as of a ledge, means on the said vertical face for removably retaining said base in the position described, an inverted U-shaped upright frame formed integrally of the central part of said base, the two parallel bars thereof Comprising rigid posts, a flexible two-piece band metal loop extending horizontally from said posts and over the ledge, each loop piece pivotally mounted on a post, said band pieces overlapped and means for varying the amount of overlap to engage circumferentially the bottom part of a container inserted downwardly in the loop and in spaced relation to said posts, and while the loop is positioned centrally of but to one side of said posts.

2. The structure specied in claim 1, in which said means for retaining the loop members in overlapped relation comprises at the free end of one band section an upright metal loop secured thereto and slidably enclosing and guiding the other band at the outer side of the rst described band, and means at the free end of the other band comprising an inwardly directed integral hook, the first described band provided with a row of apertures engaged selectively by said hook.

3. The structure specified in claim 1, in which said means for retaining the loop members in overlapped relation comprises at the free end of one band section an upright loop secured thereto and slidably'inclosing and guiding the other band at the outer side of the rst described band, and l means at the free end ofthe other band comprising an inwardly directed integral hook, the rst described band provided with a row of apertures engaged selectively by said hook, said band member with the hook formed at its extremity, outwardly of the hook, in an outwardly directed curvature for the purpose described.

GEORGE A. LODIN. 

